CP Holiday Train raises record funds

Canadian Pacific on Christmas Day, 2013, said it has "officially wrapped up its journey across Canada and the United States raising record donations for North American food banks."

CP said donations for the 2013 three-week journey by two brightly-decorated freight trains to more than 150 communities hit more than C$2 million and gathered 300,000 pounds of food. A CP spokesman noted CP collected just more than C$1 million in 2012.

"This was a record year for the Holiday Train and Canadian Pacific congratulates all those who rallied together in supporting communities in their fight against hunger," said CP CEO E. Hunter Harrison.

As part of what was raised during this year's Holiday Train, the Breakfast Club of Canada and Feeding America each received C$250,000 from CP in support of their national programs. The 2013 donation results now push totals since 1999 to close to C$9.5 million and 3.3 million pounds.

Thousands of Holiday Train supporters were treated to live performances on the modified boxcar stage. The 15th anniversary of the CP Holiday Train program also included three "signature events" in Hamilton, Ont., Calgary, and Cottage Grove, Minn. Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane with Red Rider, Great Big Sea, Natalie McMaster, The Tenors, and Take 6 performed at the special concerts that were part of the rolling cross-border fundraiser.